Boll-weevil destroyer



J. a en QADWELL.

BOLL WEEVIL DESTROYER 1921 5 Sheet-Shet 1 Filed April 21.

2%) attain Jan. 8 1924.

. J. a. BROADWELL sou, WEEVIL DESTROYER Filed April 21, 1921 5Sheets-Sheet 2 Jill. '8 1924. 1,480,498

J. B. BROADWELL BOLL WEEVIL DESTROYER 7 Filed April 21, 1921 5Sheets-Sheet Jan.'-8 1924.

J. B. BROADWELL BOLL .WEEVIL DESTROYER Filed April 21, 1921 5Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Jan. 8, 1924.

UNITED- STATES BoLL-wEEvrI; DEsrrRoYEn,

Application filed April 21; 1921'; Serial No. 463,143.

To aZZwhom z't mag concern:

Be it known that 1,. JOHN B. BROADWELL,

a citizen of the United statespresiding at 10-10, F1 8. i Fig. 11 1s adetail perspective view of a g Alpharetta, in the county of Milton andState of Georgia, have invented new and 1 useful Improvements inBoll-Weevil De-' stroyers, of which the following is a specifi cation.

This invention relates toan improved ma chine for destroying boll'wee'vil andth e primary object of. the samev is to provide a machine ofthis class which'ma'y-be readily operated to brush off; weevil from allaffe'cted squares and cause the weevil to be thrown to the ground andafterwardspicked up bysuction and gathered in bulk for easydestruction.tion isto provide ammachine of this-class having adjustable featurestoadapt the-ma chine to rows. of various widths,,and'also" otherfeatures to facilitate, the guidance and general operation of themechanism comprised in the machine; 1

With these and other'objects and advan tages in view, the inventionconsists .inthe construction and arrangement of the sev--- eral partswhich will be more fully herein after described and claimed.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a sideelevation-Lof amachine p A bent into} the form'of-astirrup 20 for receiv-fl 'ingthe'foot of the operator, and the forwardend of the crank arm 19 .is secured with the rod 16 to the outer end oftheltran'sversely extending horizontally disposed "steering bar 21having" gear teeth 22 onthehpper side thereof which are engagedfby. agear embodying-the features of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a top planview of the improved machine with the shiftinglever, for parts of the gathering devices, in section- Fig. 3 is arearend elevation.

Fig. 4 is a detail section taken through the gathering tubes.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section takenin the plane of-the line 55, Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a detail elevation of a part of the draft mechanism, showingthe draft tongue in section and particularly illustrating the preferredform of means for. re.- moving the weevil from the cottonstalks.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged transverse vertical broken section through aportion of the weevil-removing means- Fig. 8 is a transverse verticalsectionthmugh a receiver where the weevils are separated from the air,and also illustratinga portion of oneof-the pipes, :as'upport ingmeans,- and a gathering or. collecting.

sack.

A further object of the ,inve'n Fig. 9 is a horizontal section taken onthe line 9+9 F1g. 8 V p p p y H Fig.-10"is a horizontal section on theline.

partjof the steeringmechanismi The numeral 5' designates a frame preferably composed of intermediate side beams or I members 6 connectedattheir fr ont' en'dsto a drafttongue"? and also havingrearwardly"extending divergent brace beams or members SJ An arched axle?) is.secured to and ex tends transversely under] the. intermediate portion ofthe frame and has depending or Vertical tubular extremities whichu'pgright arms 11 ofwheelcarriers112 are rota tably mounted, as shown .by11, said carriers having wheels '14'of 'any..suitable structure mountedto rotate" thereon. ,as

shown'by Figs. land 2. Welded or'otheri wise secured to a point adjacent t thexbehd of each of thewheel carriers l2is a .hori-.zontalrearwardly projecting foot 15 continngj m, or fo m e 'pa aup'rii-i t steering rod lfihaving a lower clamp 17 of 'a 1 foot steeringpost 18 s ecuredytheretog The post 18 projects upwardly through arearwardly.,projecting'crankarm 19 which .is

secured to the upper portion of the rod 16."

The'upper end-of. the foot steering post'18 is ion 23fon'the/forw ardend of a steering rod or post 24 disposed at a downwardf'angle I of Iincl nation and havingahand or steering wheel on the rear uppermost endthereof to the. rear part of the frame;

at opposite sides of the machine. so thatth'e' wheels 14. may ,betu'rnedtoguide'the m chine either to the right orleft during itsprogress as may. be found necessary in fol-' lowing rowsof cottonstalksor'in making turns, and the steering mechanisrnf as fied may beeither operated through the hand wheel 25 or the foot stirrups 20. Thesteering mechanism as explained is easily operated or is sensitive inits actuation so as to render the machine readily controllable duringits progress.

Suitably mounted on the rear part of the frame is a motor 28 of anypreferred construction and having the usual battery equipment 29 andwater supply tank 30 suitably connected to the circulating pump of themotor. A fuel tank 30 is supported at the rear upper portion of thewater tank 30, and the motor 28 is provided with a driving wheel 31. Onthe forward portion of the frame is a cyclone separator 32 of well knownconstruction and provided with a combined suction and blower fan 33having a delivery pipe 34 communicating with the upper portion thereof.On the shaft of the combined suction and fan and blower is a pulley 35from which a belt 36 extends to and surrounds the driving wheel 31 andby means of which the fan and blower is operated. The fan and blower hasa suction pipe 36 extending downwardly and rear-- wardly therefrombetween the frame members, said pipe being bent inwardly, asat 37, (seeFig. 2) to dispose the same centrally with relation to the framemembers. The rear end of the suction pipe 36 has divergent transverselydisposed cross pipes 38 and 39 extending therefrom, and in the outerends of the said cross pipes suction elbow pipes 40 and 41 are mounted fand formed with vertically depending members 42 having rotatable tubularextremities .43 jointed thereto, as at 44, the extremities 43 eachcomprising a vertical member 45- and angularly disposed or divergentmembers or branches 46 and 47. The members 45,

46 and 47 are all shiftable as a unit, or have uniform rotation oradjustment and their angles may be modified by turning the same so as tobring them nearer together or farther apart relatively to thelongitudinal center of the machine to accommodate rows of differentwidths and also to dispose the said gathering members 45, 46 and 47insuch positions relatively to the ground. surface that difierent areasmay be operatively covered or affected thereby. On the lower ends of thegathering members 45, 46 and 47 are yielding or rubber boots 48, 49 and50 which serve as ground-engaging extensions for the said branches andpermit a close yielding contact with the ground surface to insuregathering operation relatively to the weevils which are forced from thecotton stalks and fall upon the ground surface. Depending from the rearportion of each elbow member is a flat spring catch or locking means 51having an opening or slot 52 in its lower free extremity to engage anyone of a series of projections 53 on the ing provided with rearwardlyprojecting. crank arms 57 attached by depending coupling bars 58 to thegathering members 45, 46 and 47 at a point adjacent to the divergence ofsaid members. The lower end of each coupling bar 58 has an eye 59loosely engaging an eye 60 at an angle thereto and secured to thegathering members, and the upper end of each coupling bar extendsthrough a slot 61 in the rear end of its corresponding crank arm 57. Bythis means sufficient lateral play or movement is pro.- vided for eachcoupling bar :58 to accommodate lateral adjustment of the elbows 40 and41 and the gathering extremities 45, 46

and 47 in a manner which will be presently explained. The crank arms 57of the rod.

or shaft 56 when the gathering extremities are in lowered operativeposltions normally extend downwardly at an angle, as shown by Fig. 1,and when the said rod or shaft 56 is turned forwardly, the elbows 40 and41 and the gathering extremities 45, 46 and 47 are elevated as a unit inaccordance with the movement of the said rod or shaft. To move or rotatethe rod or shaft 56, an operating lever or arm 62 ,is secured theretoand provided with a catch device 63 to cooperate with a toothed segment64 secured on the outer side of the rear end of one of the brace beamsor members 8 for positively.

holding the elbows 40 and 41 and the gathering extremities 45, 46 and 47in their adjusted positions. The inwardly projecting horizontal membersor arms of the elbows 40 and 41 are free to turn in the outer ends ofthe divergent'suction pipe members 38 frame and has a catch dog 69 'toengage a toothed segment 70 for holding the elbows 40 and 41 and thegathering members 45, 46 and 47 in laterally spaced relation the disew stance required to effectively cover the ground surface between the rowsof cotton stalks. By laterally shifting'fthe lever 67 in oppositedirections, stresses are exerted on the links 65 and the elbows 40 and41 and gathering extren'lities 45, 4 6 .47 correspondingly moved. Itwill thereforebe seen that thegathering extremities 45, 46

and 47 and the elbows 40. and41, consti tilting the adjustable units ofthe suction pipe system, may be moved either upwardly or downwardly,outwardly or inwardly,

and also in part rotated at an angle to bring the boots inwardlyinrelatively close positions, or moved outwardly to maximum ad-"- justedpositions or. at difierent points be" tween' the two extremeadjustments, with material advantages'in' fully covering and operatingupon the ground surface traversed between the rows of cotton stalks andinsure a thorough gathering of the weevil that have been struckorremoved from the cotton stalks. I

Extending transversely beneath and secured to the draft tongue 7 a shortdistance in advance of the front terminal of the frame is a draft bar 71having draft links 7 2 movably attached at their upper ends thereto anddepending below the said bar a predetermined distance, each draft linkhaving a draft chain or flexible attaching means. 73 connected theretoand extending rearward and attached to a hook 74 fixed to or forming apart of depending .draft braces 75 and 76, which are attached at theirupper ends to the frame 5.- The upper ends of the links 72 are connectedby means of hooks 77 to the opposite ends of the bar 71, and adjustablyattached to each link is a singletree 78 provided with the usual, tracehooks 79 for, hitching draft animals to the machine. By adjusting thesingletree 78 relatively to the'links 7 2, the

line of draft may be modified, as'will be readily understood, the saidsingletree being preferably connected by a clevis 8O to the link 72 andthe latter having a plurality of openings 81 therein to -permit theadjustment of the singletreeas may be found desirable or necessary. Ata'suitable distance inwardly from each end ofthe-vdraft bar 71 anangular connector 82iis attached and has a lower screw cap or couplinghead 83- for operable attachment to the upper screw-threaded extremityof a tubular pendant 84, shown on an enlarged scale byFig. 7, the saidpendant also having a lower screw-threaded end to receive a removablecap 85. The inner opposingportions of the pendants 84 are formed withlongitudinal slots 86, one slot being formed ineach pendant. andprojecting inwardly through the slots are spring striker wires-87,having inner free GXtIGIIlltlGSOl ends and attached at their outer endstocarrying heads 88 consistingof cylindrical blocks slidably fittedin,'ai1d freelyremovable from, and adapted tobe'iea'sily replaced in,the said tubular hangers; The heads 88 are preferably separated so as todispose the spring strikers or arms 87 at proper distances apart byspace blocks 'or members 89, and in assembling 'the heads 88with' thespringstriker arms 87 i and th'e'space members 89, the said parts arealternately inserted in the tubular hangers through'the lower open endsof the latter and the caps 85 applied, to thereby hold the said headsand space members in assembled relation, as shown by Fig. 7. The. springstriker arms '87 are formed withcoils 90 adjacent to the heads 88, so asto give the saidarms a sensitive resilient action, or to preservesufficient striking stress in each arm toeffect a removal ordisplacement of "the weevil from, the cotton stalks and the branches ofthe latter without injury to the stalkstor-br'an'ches' or breakage ofthearms.

the tu'bularjpendants 84. y

The cyeloneseparator is of Well known construction and on'the loweroutlet extremity91 thereof theupper end of a reticulated gathering bag,92' is attached, said bag being preferably formed of wire gauze;Tntothis bag'the weevils drawn into theseparator are deposited and atintervals the bag may be the bag maybe replaced or 'a similar bagsubstituted therefor. f

At such point as may befound necessary,

as for instance, in connection with the sepa rator and othercomponentsofthe machine, braces and strengthening rods willbe attached so as toigive the machine suflicient rigidity torender the same durable and of apractically serviceable character. If the boots 48, 49 and 50 becomeworn, they may be replaced by other like devices, and it will be seenthat the lower ends of the boots 49 and 50 willfbe straight to permitthem to closelyfandsquarely engage the ground surface. For convenientlyholding the lower outlet extremity of the separator 32 in place, a straploop 93 embraces the same and is secured "toone of the adjacentrearwardly diverged beams or frame members .8, the

cation of this strap loop the separator willv also 'be held; by a loopbrace 94 surrounding maybe .detachedjand replaced relat ively toremoved' and the weevil destroyed without injury to the bag structure,and subsequently said strap f l oop being formed as clearly shown byFig. 10. At a point. above the 10- the same and provided with members 95and 96 extending downwardly and secured to the same beam or frame memberto which the strap brace 93 is attached.

The machine in operation straddles a row of cotton stalks and as itprogresses the spring arms or beaters 87 strike the various parts ofthe'stalks and knock-the weevil therefrom to the ground surface below,and the suction mechanism, including the cyclonic separator 32 and thegathering unit at the rear having tubular connection with said separatorby way of the fan and blower 33, are rendered effective by the motormechanism specified, and the boots 48, 49 and 50 closely engage theground surface and follow the irregularities of the latter in view ofthe flexibility thereof, or the boot 4:8 and similar boots of each groupcarrying the follower wheel 48' and wheels similar to the latter willoperate over the ground surface in the same manner, and through theseboots and the branches or members, the elbows 40 and 41 and thedivergent pipes 38 and 39, the weevils are picked up and drawn throughthe said gathering parts into the main central pipe 36 and from thelatter pass throifgh the fan and blower 33 and thence by way of the pipe34'into the top portion of the separator, where the air passes out aftera cyclonic movement therein and which causes the weevil to fall throughthe'outlet extremity or end 91 of the separator into the bag 92. Whenthe bag 92 becomes filled it maybe removed and the weevil destroyed, byany suitable method, and the bag subsequently replaced on the loweroutlet extremity of the separator. During the progress of the machineand the operation of the gathering and separating devices justexplained, the wheels 14: may be readily turned, either by hand or thefeet of the operator, to cause the machine to regularly follow or engageover the row of cotton stalks, and, likewise, when the machine istransported to and from the rows of cotton stalks, or in making turns todispose the machine in position for operation on various rows of stalks,the steering of themachine may be readily effected and controlled.

WVhat I claim as new is:

1. In a machine of the class specified, a.

downwardly, said gathering unit comprising laterally and rotatablyadjustable divergent extremities adapted to closelyengage the groundsurface.

3. In a machine of the class specified, a wheeled frame, suctionmechanism mounted on the frame, and a tubular gathering unit connectedto the suction mechanism and:

wheeled frame, suction mechanism carried,

by the frame, and a tubular gatheringunit connected to the suctionmechanism and comprising at each side a plurality of laterally androtatably. adjustable divergent gathering extremities having a yieldingground-engaging boots.

5. In a machine of the class specified,"a Wheeled frame, suctionmechanism carried by the frame, and a tubular gatheringunit connected tothe suction mechanism and comprising at each side a plurality oflaterally, vertically and rotatably adjustable gathering extremitiesadapted to closely en gage the ground surface.

6. In a machine of the class specified, a wheeled frame, suctionmechanism carried by the frame, a tubular unit connected to the suctionmechanism and comprising laterally adjustable members each having aplurality of divergent inwardly projected tubular extremities pivotallyconnected to said laterally adjustable members, and means for laterallyadjusting the said members to modify the distances apart of the same andthe scope of operation of the unit as a whole relatively to the width ofthe ground surface over which the unit moves.

7. In a machine of the class specified, a wheeled frame,suctionmechanism carried by the frame, a tubular gathering unitconnected to the suction mechanism and com-.

prising laterally adjustable members each havinga plurality of separateddistinct tu-z 1n length and means for controlling thesepacorrespondingly vary the distance between the gathering extremitiesthereof to modify the extent of operation of said extremities relativelyto the ground surface over which the unit is moved.

8. In a machine of the class specified, a.

wheeled frame, suction mechanism carried by the frame, and a tubulargathering unit connected to the suction mechanism and comprisinglaterally adjustable members having a plurality of rotatably adjustablegathering extremities to increase and decrease the scope of operation ofthe gathering unit relatively to the ground surface over which it moves.

9. In a. machine of the class specified, a

wheeled frame, suction mechanism carried by the frame, and a tubulargathering unit connected to the suction mechanism and comprisinglaterally and vertically adjustable members each having a plurality ofrotatably adjustable inwardly projecting gathering extremities providedwith flexible.

boots to increase and decrease the scope of operation of the gatheringunit relatively to the ground surface over which it moves and effect aclose en'gagement of the gathering extremities with the ground surface.

10. In a machine of the class specified, a wheeled frame, suctionmechanism carried by the frame, and a tubular gathering unit comprisinglaterally adjustable members having a plurality of rotatably adjustabledivergent extremities to increase and decrease the scope of operation ofthe gathering unit relatively to the ground surface over which it moves.

11. In a machine of the class specified, a wheeled frame, suctionmechanism carried by the frame, and a tubular gathering unit mounted tohave an upwardly and down wardly adjustable swinging movement andcomprising laterally adjustable members having a plurality of rotatablyadjustable divergent extremities to increase and decrease the scope ofoperation of the gathering unit relatively to the ground surface overwhich it moves.

12. In a machine of the class specified, a wheeled frame, suctionmechanism carried by the frame and including a separator at the frontportion of the frame, a tubular gathering unit mounted on the rearportion of the frame and having a pipe connected to the suctionmechanism, the gathering unit having laterally adjustable members eachcomprising a plurality of inwardly projecting gathering extremities toincrease the scope of operation of said members and the unit, andyielding beater means at the front of the frame for striking parts ofcotton stalks to remove weevil therefrom,

the gathering unit picking up the weevil from the [ground surface as themachine progresses.

13. In a machine of the class specified, a wheeled frame, suctionmechanism carried by the frame and including a separator, a tubulargathering unit mounted at the rear of the machine and connected to thesuction mechanism, and weevil removing devices at the front of themachine consisting of pendant tubular supports having a plurality ofheads removably mounted therein and provided with inwardly projectingyielding beating arms.

14. In a machine of the class specified, a wheeled frame, suctionmechanism carried by the frame, a tubular gathering unit at the rear ofthe frame and connected to the suction mechanism, and beater device atthe front of the frame comprising pendant tubular supports having slotsin their inner portions, a plurality of heads removably mounted in thetubular supports and provided with inwardly extending spring arms, spacedevices between the said heads, and means applied to the lower ends ofthe pendant supports for maintaining the spring arms in positivepositions relatively to the pendants.

15. A depending jointed suction gathering member for application to aninsect destroying machine comprising jointed parts having vertical anddivergent extremities to engage the ground surface, the vertical anddivergent extremities of the member being rotatable as a unit to varythe position of .the same relatively to the machine to which the membermay be applied.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

JOHN B. BROADWELL.

Witnesses:

Son. F. STRIGKLAND, O. O. SHIRLEY.

